What is now the Western North Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association was established in 1982, under the leadership of Vera Guise, as an informal group concerned about people with Alzheimer's disease. The group incorporated in 1984, and it was chartered by the national Alzheimer's Association in 1985.

Through a merger of the Carolina Piedmont Chapter, based in Charlotte, and the Western North Carolina Chapter, based in Asheville, the Western Carolina Chapter was established on July 1, 2001. The leaders of the two Chapters became convinced that the people with Alzheimer's disease, their families and their caregivers could be served more effectively and efficiently if the resources of the two chapters were combined. The service area of the new chapter includes the 49 counties in the Western half of North Carolina – from Pinehurst to Murphy.